499 Gallon In wall build (slow sorry!)

[kfennell]

Edit: Remember when your mom told you if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all. Please remember that before you post in this thread.

Edit: Now 500 gallons!

Hello Everyone


First off if anyone knows of where to find a glass starfire tank that meets my dimensions below let me know! Thanks


I am building a nice new house at www.sanmarcosriverranch.com (http://www.sanmarcosriverranch.com) and should be done around January. Somehow I talked my wife into letting me build a tank into the house by taking a corner of the dining room that we wont really use and turning it into a tank room and having a false wall around the tank.


The tank will be ~400 gallons, and custom made with a starfire front. I have done a crude hand drawing of the position and a slightly less crude google sketch of the layout of the room. In the sketch we will be installing a door from the pantry for access to the fish room.


House Layout
http://i.imgur.com/TjKdc.jpg


In the room
http://i.imgur.com/nUF4i.png
Under the tank is the sump and refugium (which I think I will flip around) then on the stand is the frag tank up top. And a coral QT tank down below.


So the tank will be viewable only through that wall, and I will probably black out the back panels with something removable for working on the tank.
There will also be a water storage tank on the right side of that room which I hid in the drawing to make it easier to see the tank and where the pumps will sit on the right.


The tank will be 126"x25.5"x30" high with the overflow along the end and not visible from the front, it also will not have any powerheads visible I hope, which should be a nice appearance!


Equipment list

Pump 365 aquacave or marinedepot w 10% off could be 330 Dart Super Gold

CL Pump 365 aquacave or marinedepot w 10% off could be 330 Dart Super Gold
OM 4 way 499 oceans motion
Powerheads
Tank Unknown if needed
Sump $49 aquacave Koralia EVOLUTION 750
Refugium $33 aquacave nano 240
Frag Tank 220 ebay MP10
qt tank $33 aquacave nano 240
Sump $355 glasscages 100 long
Frag Tank 165 Glasscages 36x12x12 rimless
Coral QT 15 LFS 10g standard
Lights Home made $1,500 DIY
Tank $2,900 Glasscages 126x25.5x30
Water Tank $152 watertank.com 100g
RO System $269 airwaterice EXTREME TYPHOON III 150 GPD
Autotopoff $51 autotopoff.com dual switch sump controller
Carbon Reactor $60 bulk reef supply dual media reactor
4 way dosing pump 490 marinedepot aqua medic 4 way doser
ro solenoid valve $25 autotopoff.com
Rocks $1,299 bulkreefsupply 500 lbs of fiji dry
Heaters 89 aquacave 2x finnex 500w
kalk stirrer $249 avastmarine K2 kalk stirrer
Salt $350 drs fosters smith 5x tropic marin pro 200g
Plumbing $500 All over
Tests $142 BRS Salifert All
Carbon $80 5 gal pail
Dosing Supplies $275 BRS Calc, alk, mag, kalk 5 gla pail of ea
Foods $50 allover
PH Probe $30 BRS BRS
Refractometer $40 BRS BRS
Total 10650



Thoughts on the equipment list? I already have a controller and a SWC 2s skimmer from my last tank, but I will need to buy all of the above.


Cooling will be handled by a dedicated AC zone for the room, muuuuuuch cheaper then a chiller!


The tank will be set up with the water from the main system going to the sump through a beananimal drain system, then to the return pump which will send some of the water to the refugium, and some of it to the frag tank the rest through a hole in the bottom of the tank (after passing above tank level). Typing this made me realize I will need to raise the refugium.


The water changes will be automated by two of the channels of the doser, taking out around 7 gallons a day and replacing it from the 100g water reservoir. Every 2 weeks I just have to fill it up and add salt, and I guess I will have to leave a powerhead running in it. I am trying to make this as hands off as possible once it is running, thoughts on making it more automated?


I need to decide what to put on the bottom, are there any alternatives to starboard?


Should have the room framed in and have the glass in it in about 2 months. I will start making the LED's in around the same time, once ski season is over.


Anyone have thoughts on what the LED layout should be? I was thinking lots of 20w multichips? Somewhere around 24 with 60 degree lenses? Maybe since I have decided to go with 30" deep I will need to add a few 100w chips over the most heavily coraled areas, but I am worried about the light not being even.


Thoughts?

[chunkymonkey]

This is going to be an awesome build, can't wait to see it evolve.....

[Big_Pun]

louis at elegant has ordered in some nice custom tanks latley. give them a call

[chunkymonkey]

Definitely, I was impressed with Elegant's shop.....top notch guy!

[kfennell]

Just bought the K2 Kalk stirrer since it was 15% off this weekend, getting started!

[kfennell]

So I went to MACNA this weekend and saw some things including the LED's from our local supplier build your led.

I also got a deal on some equipment from salty supply who basically gave me 10% off the lowest price I could find online on a few things, one of those things that I hadn't planned on getting, but was convinced after seeing it at MACNA was a controller. I got an APEX system from salty and I will use it to dim my lights as well as control the pumps and monitor like a normal controller. We were really sold on the fact that it has phone based controlls and the built in 0-10v. I should be able to use it to control my lights, pump, ato, change from kalk or not depending on the pH, and run some water on floor sensors. Overall I am pretty happy with what it can do for me.

I also got a QT tank from Petsmart since they had one that was slightly damaged on sale, so now I have a 60g in the apartment living room with some salt and LR on the way so that I can start my rock cycling ASAP and have it as ready to go as possible when the tank can be started.

Lastly I am still not sure about what LED to get. I really like the BuildmyLED product and they are only a little more or maybe even less then i could do it for myself, and they have native apex controllability. The site isn't working so well yet though so I haven't been able to play around to get 100% of the color I want worked out. I hope they get that worked out.


A question: Where is the cheapest place to get 300 lbs of medium to coarse sand? Marco rocks coarse? Just get 9 bags of caribsea select?

[KING]

Nice..good buys..have u been elegant yet..?

[kfennell]

Nice..good buys..have u been elegant yet..?
Yeah I've been, I think they probably have the nicest looking tanks I've seen around here. Will definately be buying some coral there when the time comes. They are also looking around for pricing on a tank for me as well right now.

[FireWater]

A question: Where is the cheapest place to get 300 lbs of medium to coarse sand? Marco rocks coarse? Just get 9 bags of caribsea select?

I can't speak for the Marco sand. I believe Buck27 had some of it in his older tank. Might be able to shoot him a pm and ask or he might see this. I know I looked at buying some of it for my last tank build and changed my mind. Funny thing is I can't even remember what I put in now.

On a side note, I believe I saw you say that you were at MACNA. Did you have a chance to talk with Marc from MarcoRocks? Pretty cool guy.

CaribSea has some very nice newer varieties of substrate as well.

[kfennell]

I can't speak for the Marco sand. I believe Buck27 had some of it in his older tank. Might be able to shoot him a pm and ask or he might see this. I know I looked at buying some of it for my last tank build and changed my mind. Funny thing is I can't even remember what I put in now.

On a side note, I believe I saw you say that you were at MACNA. Did you have a chance to talk with Marc from MarcoRocks? Pretty cool guy.

CaribSea has some very nice newer varieties of substrate as well.

I didnt talk to him at the show, but I did yesterday, 500 lbs of marcorocks are on the way.

[FireWater]

Cool. You will be happy with it and he does a pretty good job of selection and the packing job on mine was awesome. They put bubble wrap in between layers and I had very few broken pieces.

Do you plan to use mortar or rods to hold the structure together? Or just stacking?

[kfennell]

I will probably use eggcrate on the bottom, then tie the rocks together with fishing line mostly, Maybe some rods if I feel like and have time to get fancy. I have a few sticks of putty a well if I need it.

[kfennell]

So time for the updates to start again, on the less exciting news I returned the bubble magus dosers and I will get some BRS dosers so that I can control them from the Apex. I also received a CPR backpack skimmer for the QT after having to return the SWC since it was broken and their entire stock was broken.

On to more exciting news, the part of the house where the tank will go exists now and they are going to build the stand and the wall tomorrow, below is a picture of the space where the tank will be, it goes from just to the right of the hallway, to the narrow window on the right. The builder forgot to tell the framer to put a door in the pantry, but I think they are doing that tomorrow when the build the rest.

Notice the AC vent into the room area, they will install a exhaust fan too this weekend, and the AC control for that zone will be accessible from inside or outside the room and you will be able to control the AC with the controller I hope.

Area for the tank:
http://i.imgur.com/iiGyW.jpg

Room the tank is in from the second story (since you can still see through the walls:
http://i.imgur.com/noKl4.jpg

And roughly the view if you stand in front of the tank and look towards the sunset http://www.austinreefclub.com//public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png
http://i.imgur.com/sNm39.jpg

More to follow this weekend when the tank room gets built!

[edshas2]

Nice View

[kfennell]

I think maybe the framers never came today, they still weren't there at noon plus then it poured rain, on the good side the tank is going to ship "sometime next week"

[kfennell]

The framers came back!


So we got something done today, although some of it was done wrong... Anyways, the wall for the fish room is up now, this shows roughly what it will be like except the bottom wall under the opening will have to be removed because the wall will just be the stand there.


The opening is 84" high because as someone suggested it is important to have front access, so there will be cabinetry over the top front.


The room! Notice the door to access the rear from the pantry
http://i.imgur.com/WMKP3.jpg


And the views from the back door and through the wall from upstairs
http://i.imgur.com/oee24.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/njx9w.jpg


I also have a piece of rock in the cycling tank now so there will start to be a little color/life in there in about a month I guess.


Lights should ship this week, need to re-order the dosers, and then its just getting the tank onto the stand somehow!

[BBQHILLBILLY]

Very cool. Its allways fun to watch something top scale get created. You have great vision.

[kfennell]

Thanks, I hope I have enough vision that it comes out looking as nice as in my head! It's difficult to get the idea across to the builder and framers exactly what I am trying to do as well, I think the builder thinks I am nuts.

[350gt]

nice view..... look forward to seeing more..

[350gt]

Are you going to have access behind the tank? That would be awesome.

I would love to have enough room for a few refugiums. One would be dedicaed to mangroves with enough room to let them grow....

But I see your vision and I like...

[kfennell]

Yeah, you can kind of see where they put the door opening in the left wall, you will be able to go in through the pantry.

There won't be a ton of room back there, but there will be a 2x2x2 roughly refugium under the stand.

[kfennell]

So the framers wont build the stand until the electrician is done, so that will probably be some time next week. In better news the tank is made and crated (though they wont send me pictures... I hope it looks how I want!). It should go on a truck around today and get here in 3-4 days after that.

Exciting times!

[rrasco]

That's odd. As much as I'm assuming you spent on it, you'd think the least they'd be willing to do is send you a picture.

Might I add, that is one sweet community you are building in. I'm jelly.

[kfennell]

Yeah glass cages CS is kind of hit and miss, depends if you can get Beth on the phone or not really.

[rrasco]

Oh...glass cages. I've heard pretty good (and honestly some bad) things about them, but their CS was as you said, hit or miss.

[kfennell]

So still no news on the stand or anything major on the house front, I saw that they had the electrical all finished up in the tank room, but I asked them to move one of the outlets for me, so hopefully that gets done because there is no power on the one wall now.


So on to what is new. First I have some of the lights in and here is a picture of my rock cycling tank with my one coral/source of bacteria and about 100 lbs or rocks getting ready for the big tank.


http://i.imgur.com/o2Gwq.jpg
And my one coral which lost all its color but it is coming back now that I have proper lights
http://i.imgur.com/D73Vh.jpg


And I have a small QT system set up now for treating new fish with the tank transfer method.
http://i.imgur.com/pEi9N.jpg
That is 2x 2.5g tanks with their own heaters and air pumps etc.


And my new fish!
http://i.imgur.com/KLxSf.jpg


It is a tiny blue Atlantic tang that I got today from elegant reef, should have him in the rock tank in about 14 days, and I guess at that point I will have a real tank :)


Tank is set to ship on Tuesday but since the F1 race is this weekend I think I will set it back another week if possible since I wont be around to deal with it. I found some movers that will pick it up and put it on the stand for $347 insured, so I think that is going to be my plan. They think they can move it with 4 guys, I doubt it but it's their problem if they cant.

[kfennell]

And the stupid fish died last night, don't know what the cause is but I suspect it was overly stressed since it was being kept in 1.031sg water in the store.

[reefreak]

sorry to hear, what size tank is the rock in?

[kfennell]

It's a 60g from petsmart, I think it's the footprint of a 50g but taller.

[Big_Pun]

And the stupid fish died last night, don't know what the cause is but I suspect it was overly stressed since it was being kept in 1.031sg water in the store.

what did you use to test water??? tanks at ER are at 1.20 as of today. also Atlantic blue tangs are very sensitive so putting in a new system that isn't mature is a death sentence. are you running anything in qt system like copper cause they are also sensitive to copper treatment

[Big_Pun]

as John pointed out I forgot a zero 1.020

[kfennell]

I tested it with a calibrated refractometer. One I believe to be accurate as it matched what I expected the water to be when I first mixed salt.I asked my wife who is a medical lab manager to check that I had observed correctly and check the refractometer as well

The system was newly set up, but was bare tank as shown in the picture, and the water was mixed over 1 month ago and kept in a tank with dry rock and a skimmer. No ammonia per seachem ammonia meter and test strips.

I did not use Copper, but THEY did, which I found out when I called to ask today. It was in the smaller system on the left where the shrimp etc are.

[Big_Pun]

well there obviously is no copper in those tanks as all the inverts would be dead. salinity is usually at 1.026 in those tanks, but I can see it being high if someone topped off wrong as its a small system. the blue are kept in those tanks for that reason, after a couple died from previous orders I found info about certain species that do bad in copper that being on top of list, very sensitive fish not too many people are successful with them.

[kfennell]

Youre right there must not be copper over there, I was just going by what the guy on the phone said today. I am sure that the fish didn't much like the up and down of salinity.

[Ms_Big_Pun]

Those tiny tangs are hard to keep going. I've tried a couple of times with the baby blue tangs and I finally have up

[alton]

Tough loss on such a nice fish. One thing about baby fish they have to eat constantly, if this fish was at the wholesaler too long he probably did not get enough food to sustain him. Also Lorraine and a post on Reef Central taught me that a QT system may not always mean a sterile system. I know on my Regal Angels they have to go into a QT system before my 300 but that QT system is a 100 gallon tub with live rock, softies and two pond foam filters for biological load. If the fish shows signs of ich or something else I can pull the liverock out and treat, but as Lorraine taught me why stress the fish with treatments if it is not waranted? Good luck with the rest of your setup and with this hobby there will always be ups and down, just don't let the downs get to you.

[Big_Pun]

talked to guys at ER the invert tanks are at 1.025, also we go outside and use natural sunlight to check with refractometer as light bulb spectrums can throw off reading. do you calibrate with RO/Di water or calibration fluid of 35ppm?

[kfennell]

I calibrated it with RO/DI, but if my gauge was off by .006 would SPS corals be living and thriving (compared to what it was when i got it) in my 60g? That would mean that my 60g is at 1.019 I find it much more likely that they fixed it on Sunday after I talked to Mike. I will see about ordering some calibration fluid though as I need to make sure I have things right over here.

[Big_Pun]

hasn't been touched and mike thought it came out of fish only system. they are tested everyday, and yes your coral would be fine at those levels if it wasn't a drastic change 1.019 is not that low. I have cal fluid on hand if your near my neck of the woods in utsa area. or the store has some we would be glad to calibrate for you.

[kfennell]

Fluid on the way from Dr FS

[kfennell]

It came out of the system on the far left with the smaller tanks, it was in the top right divider, didn't see if it was plumbed in with the inverts that I remember being in the bottom row.

[Big_Pun]

It came out of the system on the far left with the smaller tanks, it was in the top right divider, didn't see if it was plumbed in with the inverts that I remember being in the bottom row.

that ones whole system on its own sump. it's like the ones at most commercial stores, top and bottom tanks share the sump at bottom

[kfennell]

I got the calibration fluid in yesterday the refractometer was correct. It's a moot point anyways because of the way I was treated when I called in, having to call multiple times, being treated like a criminal with the questioning when I called them and then Louis never calling me back when he said he would.

It's OK I can buy things on the internet for less money anyways, I don't know why I keep trying to support the local economy. Sorry to the other fish stores, but that is probably $10-20k in sales that will go to LA and blue zoo now.

[Big_Pun]

sorry to hear that but it's your money. what size tank and heaters are your qt system

[kfennell]

2.5g and 50w, As far as I have seen the temperature stays constant. They don't overheat the water when they turn on or anything that I have seen, I sat there and watched the first time I set them up to make sure it would turn off and it looked like it was working well.

[Big_Pun]

heaters are no problem but 2.5g is kinda small. why not run the live rock aquarium as qt, unless you plan to copper treat, the fish would help speed up "curing" process for rock.

[kfennell]

Because if I get a diesase in with the liverock then I can't move it into the main tank...

The 2.5g are just for doing the tank transfer method on very small fish, having a goby in there is no different then a tang in a 55g.

[FireWater]

Any other progress on the stand and electrical? And what is this tank transfer method? I tried looking it up with no luck.

[kfennell]

The electrical is in, and the stand is "in" I have been hesitant to post it since they deviated from the plans pretty far and I'm not 100% sure that I am happy with it. I hope that after tomorrow's revisions I have something that I can show!

The tank transfer method boils down to changing the tank and water 100% every 3 days to stop the cycle of the ich. After 4 cycles all the ich has fallen off the fish and hasn't had a chance to come back to the water column. Here is the post on reef central (FYI Reef Central is awful never go there!) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1996525

[Big_Pun]

it's not that bad on RC look at the nice info you linked us to.

[kfennell]

Any other progress on the stand and electrical? And what is this tank transfer method? I tried looking it up with no luck.

Since you're in my thread anything you can do to help me with my charter membership? I paid... like 3 months ago maybe and still haven't got anything.

Thanks

[FireWater]

I will see what I can do.

[FireWater]

Since you're in my thread anything you can do to help me with my charter membership? I paid... like 3 months ago maybe and still haven't got anything.

Thanks

Fixed.

[kfennell]

Fixed.

Thanks

I will take some pictures of the plumbing electrical and the "stand" this weekend. I think the front opening will be drywalled too soon so it should be neat to see.

[Big_Pun]

The electrical is in, and the stand is "in" I have been hesitant to post it since they deviated from the plans pretty far and I'm not 100% sure that I am happy with it. I hope that after tomorrow's revisions I have something that I can show!

The tank transfer method boils down to changing the tank and water 100% every 3 days to stop the cycle of the ich. After 4 cycles all the ich has fallen off the fish and hasn't had a chance to come back to the water column. Here is the post on reef central (FYI Reef Central is awful never go there!) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1996525

this seems like a very stressful way to prevent ich, if you buy from a good source then you shouldnt have any problems, most of the time when people see ich its due to stress. a healthy fish should be able to fight the parasite. copper is the only real way to treat it so why not set up a bigger stable system for QT to copper treat. handling a fish every three days is going to freak it out.

[kfennell]

this seems like a very stressful way to prevent ich, if you buy from a good source then you shouldnt have any problems, most of the time when people see ich its due to stress. a healthy fish should be able to fight the parasite. copper is the only real way to treat it so why not set up a bigger stable system for QT to copper treat. handling a fish every three days is going to freak it out.

Basically everything you just said is wrong.

1. You move them in three days to identical water, it's not that stressful, there are no reports of this causing any deaths in the 1000+ post thread on reef central.
2. If you you buy from a good source you shouldn't have problems: Wrong even live aquaria divers den recommends that you QT all fish that you get from them.
3. A healthy fish should be able to fight the parasite: There is no evidence of this
4. Copper is NOT the only way to treat fish, tank transfer method and hyposalinity are both well documented methods that are successful, it is also possible that there are other ways involving anti parastitcs (not ich-away and the like).

Please stop giving incorrect advice, this statement is not just wrong, it is dangerous to any new hobby member who might read it and think they don't need to be careful because they are getting their fish from a "good" source

if you buy from a good source then you shouldnt have any problems, most of the time when people see ich its due to stress. a healthy fish should be able to fight the parasite"

[Big_Pun]

how long have you been in this hobby?? I've delt with ich many times and got every fish through it, with just basic meds in food and good care, not one other fish in the tank came down with anything. so explain to me how my info is incorrect when it's from years of experience and not something I just repeated

[kfennell]

I haven't died yet when I don't wear my seat belt driving...

[350gt]

One big mistake is buying a fish before a system is even up and running.....

Please don't tell me you seriously stuffed that fish in a 2.5 gallon tank......

I might have misread but I think I found the cause of stress if so....

[FireWater]

There are several different proven ways to deal with what y'all are talking about.

What works for one doesn't always work for another.

[koa25]

There are several different proven ways to deal with what y'all are talking about.

What works for one doesn't always work for another.

Word

[350gt]

I have never quarantined....


its worked for me.... Lol

[koa25]

I have never quarantined....


its worked for me.... Lol

:confused: Blashphemy

[kfennell]

One big mistake is buying a fish before a system is even up and running.....

Please don't tell me you seriously stuffed that fish in a 2.5 gallon tank......

I might have misread but I think I found the cause of stress if so....

The 2.5g tank is probably bigger then the tank it was in in the store, I have seen literally hundreds of fish in 1-3g divided tanks in stores before as well as QT'd fish in 5g buckets lots of times. As I stated before I had the fish in a tank that was ~ 1x his length, it is no different then having a 4" yellow tank in a 75g which everyone has done.

[Big_Pun]

the tank at store may be 3-5 g on a 300 gallon total system volume, that tank is tied in with that whole wall of tanks, with a big sump and skimmer, meaning its stable and very lil swings in temp and salinity also the bio logical filter is established. totally different from a 2.5 and 50w heater.
and having 4 tangs in a 75 with proper filtration and they are not plucked every 3 days is ok! there is more than likely lots of rock (biological filtration) a sump and skimmer lots of water turn over. a tank isn't just a holding vessel there more to it than water volume. you ha a sponge filter that was set up how long so any waste released by the fish was not being cycle out or converted to nitrites by biological reaction or "cycle"

[rrasco]

I think a 2.5g is a bad idea, not really to touch on the size factor, but the volume factor. At the LFS, the total water volume is a lot larger when tanks are divided, thus leading to more stable parameters. In a 2.5g total volume system, params will swing very quickly.

[kfennell]

No it is not if you are changing 100% water every 3 days with one small fish. There are minimal fluctuations in that time. Hell I have kept a yasha hase and a pistol shrimp in a 2.5g before long term. There is nothing wrong with that QT setup for SMALL fish.

[Big_Pun]

that's the flaw in that system you change 100% water so the fish is handled every 3 days. the cycle is starting right away and in only 2.5 so it happens fast, with a larger water volume it would take longer for things to swing.
so of you did this on a 15-20 tank with one fish this may be less stressful

[Big_Pun]

all in all we are tryin to help you be successful most of us have been doing this a while. if you really want a qt system I wouldn't mind sitting down and helping you, or even making this tank transfer method work. i see the point of it but at moment you could improve your system.

[350gt]

Little bit of knowledge in here....

idk putting a tang in anything less than a 75 is nuttz IMO.... In a 2.5 is crazy...even if it is for his own good...

The last fish I bought was a purple tang, infamous for ick... Well I took my chances and didn't quarantine.... He's fatter than ever and looks awesome..... He will go to a bigger tank with in time....

[350gt]

Either way I still look forward to this coming together....

Dont quit at the LFS's... It's not all there fault and they are just trying to get by like anyone else....


i had an incident awhile back and it took me awhile to step my foot back in the door, which I shouldn't have (lol).... But I doubt any logical person will treat you that way a second time.... Maybe you caught them on a crappy day, who knows...


Elegant are good peeps, one of the best in the city...... I don't say that cause I shop there, I say that cause I wouldn't shop there if I didn't feel that way.....

[kfennell]

Maybe there's some misunderstandings going on here. I'll explain, once. After that, I feel like it's beating a dead horse and will be sticking to the topic of the build - not qt.

Fish are more likely to show signs of ich when stressed. However, it's a moot point if you remove the parasite from the equation - which is what the tank transfer method accomplishes. While I don't think the tank transfer method is all that stressful, who cares if the fish is stressed when there's no parasite to make it sick? (btw, do you think medication/copper treatment and hyposalinity are completely stress free? doubtful) Since I'm only set up to tank transfer tiny fish (i.e the nickle sized tang I had) I also have a 65g qt system with live rock and skimmer. Avoiding using copper in this system for the next three months is necessary since that rock will be going in my main tank. After this point, I can comfortably copper treat this tank and get larger fish. Until then, I have to use a copper free system. Doing tank transfer on small fish will let me safely put them in my 65g without the need to copper treat - since they aren't carrying any parasites with them, this tank (and my rock) will remain sterile.

Overall, utilizing both systems will ensure maximum sterility of my main tank in the end. The fewer parasites that the fish come in contact with, the better. During cold and flu season, would you rather shake hands with 1 sick person or 5? I've had salt water tanks for 4+ years and have kept probably 1,000g total of various sized systems (including my last 500g reef system that I had set up for 2.5 years). While I hadn't heard of the tank transfer method when I was setting up my last tank, I have no doubt that this is a good way to go this time around.

[alton]

Okay 18 days without updated pictures?

[kfennell]

Okay 18 days without updated pictures?

Building a house is painfully slow! I do have some new pictures though just need to get them off the camera, Every night is busy with going to pick stone and paint, and visiting the site etc :(

[Big_Pun]

I've had salt water tanks for 4+ years and have kept probably 1,000g total of various sized systems (including my last 500g reef system that I had set up for 2.5 years). While I hadn't heard of the tank transfer method when I was setting up my last tank, I have no doubt that this is a good way to go this time around.

yea you came from Colorado(MASC) would love to live there and i hear stores there are nice.

[alton]

Building a house is painfully slow! I do have some new pictures though just need to get them off the camera, Every night is busy with going to pick stone and paint, and visiting the site etc :(

It has been 28 years since I built mine, I am not sure I would want to do that again. Okay I will wait till day 19 to bug you again.

[kfennell]

OK! So an update

The following were purchased over thanksgiving/black friday sales and arrived today.

Sicce voyager 4 powerhead (which I will hide behind the wall trim on the left).
500w Finnex Heater
The sand (tropic marin sugar size and miniflakes - I recommend miniflakes from the look so far, unfortunately I got more of the sugar size).
Dosing pumps from BRS with another energy bar 8
6 Salifert test kits

So I think apart from consumables and the sump tanks I am done for buying things. I have a deal worked out for the sumps, just need to pay and set it in motion. Waiting for the stand to finish to purchase.

And some pictures.

Here is the stand from outside before the partial drywall.
http://i.imgur.com/NsSoQ.jpg

And after Drywall
http://i.imgur.com/bHfqR.jpg

And inside the tank room/toolbench...
http://i.imgur.com/14knr.jpg

Probably the best picture that I took of the stand
http://i.imgur.com/BWtAt.jpg

The electrical. There are 2x 20A dedicated non GFCI circuits there, plus under the window is on another 20A circuit that is shared with the great room. There is also low voltage wiring for ethernet for the controller. Up on the wall is the switch box that I will take down after inspection to pull out the wire for the exuast fan to control with the controller.
http://i.imgur.com/az9vc.jpg

And here is the plumbing as it sits now, the drain will get a P-Tube and point out the right I think, then the whole thing will get drywalled in eventually. They left this area for now the rest of the house is already taped even.
http://i.imgur.com/SfVcV.jpg

One more change we made lately since we are on plumbing is that there will be a line to carry RODI from the aquarium room to the utility room where the QT is to handle top off, I dont want to deal with dosing pumps and a water reservoir. Paying for the line is less then a dosing pump for the top off as well.

Heres another view of the aquarium from the back door, I am looking upstairs for some reason.
http://i.imgur.com/7Od6J.jpg

And here is where the house sits tonight.
http://i.imgur.com/RweGy.jpg


BTW since we are on pics that I have to upload, everyone should go to the F-1 Race next year, it was awesome!
http://i.imgur.com/8UKNm.jpg

[Triggerman]

That's going tobe a nice home and aquarium!

The outside stone you picked looks really nice....me and my wife have been meeting with different builders over the last year. It's a painfully slow process like you said...are you happy with the builder you went with?

[kfennell]

I sent you a PM because my builder is so awesome that it would derail the thread!

[alton]

That is going to be one nice large aquarium. Thanks for the update.

[kfennell]

Well the tank has made it to DFW so far, it is supposed to get down here tomorrow, and my builder is actually going to meet me at the yard to pick it up, with his trailer so that is a big help! Maybe we will get to see it tomorrow!

[allan]

Man, bet you're not going to sleep well tonight. Be sure to take some snappies of the tank at the yard.

[kfennell]

Since everything always goes as planned the tank still never made it across SAT to where I can pick it up today, new plan for tomorrow.

[kfennell]

http://i.imgur.com/bJUzf.jpg?1

[SinisterLou]

wow thats nice, you could sleep in that beast

[ErikH]

Great build you have going on here. Looks like GC did a great job on your tank. Love me some black seams! That glass must be an inch thick? Hopefully it's not more than that because Vortechs MP60 is only rated for that! Oh wait, I just saw the holes for the closed loop. Nevermind, carry on sir! :shades:

[reefreak]

Sweet!

[BBQHILLBILLY]

wow nice tank:bigsmile:

[kfennell]

Tank room got painted last night (well some anyways they will have to come back and hand paint another coat) and the holes were drilled for the bulkheads (drilling 4.5" holes broke my ****ty drill!). Today the tank gets unwrapped and put on the stand for the first time! Might not be able to get pictures today but by tomorrow for sure.

[kfennell]

Here are all the pics from yesterday, plumbing is already going to be over budget, definitely dropped the ball there!


Notice in the movers pictures how 4 guys show up... then there were 6, then a pic of 8, and finally 10! people to move the tank. Luckily I negotiated a flat rate!!!


http://i.imgur.com/4bHg7.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Ql6Tq.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/VTTRM.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/IgfEq.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/x6i02.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/CQ4tO.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/zaxQi.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/65qS0.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ird7i.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/MABNG.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/BZaU7.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/lbw9r.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/gWGjv.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Z2yCh.jpg


And then the battery died.


So hopefully we get a picture of it on the stand today! Camera is charging beside me...

[kfennell]

http://i.imgur.com/BH56D.jpg

[BBQHILLBILLY]

That looks so awesome. very nice to see it coming together.

[Paul28]

Its good to see big glass tanks very nice

[kfennell]

It's good to see, not good to move!

[ErikH]

I'm sure that stand is strong enough, but I get nervous seeing tanks of this size on wood, mainly because wood warps. That tank is beast.

[kfennell]

Glasscages specifically said NOT to use a metal stand. That stand was build by the house framers though and you can tell, I am 100% confident that it would 5 tanks stacked on top of one another full of water.

[kfennell]

How many chromis do you think would make a nice looking school in there? Start with 30?

[Big_Pun]

How many chromis do you think would make a nice looking school in there? Start with 30?

how many do you want in the end, seems like about half always die. unless your lucky like me and shoot for 3 and buy 6 and they all live lol. but 30 sounds cool you can always add more or take some out later. are these going to be the fish you cycle with?

[jwalk034]

Any update???

[kfennell]

Nothing lately, waiting for the house to get more finished before I start to set up plumbing etc, Maybe not much more news till mid feb when I move in, I might order the sump and other tanks soon though.

[kfennell]

Ordered my sumps with Ace yesterday, I am optimistic that we can start filling the tank this weekend, so there might be pictures of that?!

[koa25]

I was curious how this was progressing. Looking forward to them.

[kfennell]

Framer once again didn't level the stand today, but he at least did come and look at it. So hopefully still water this weekend.

[kfennell]

Alright, stand is leveled and the tank spend last night half full of water. Going for the fill today!

[BBQHILLBILLY]

congrats pics:bigsmile:

[kfennell]

And here is the frame that will go around the stand, finish staining tomorrow I think. Also the first reveal with water!


http://i.imgur.com/FduBIBD.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/oaH6q7j.jpg?1

[BBQHILLBILLY]

awesome!!

[Big_Pun]

looks good!! your not worried about all that extra sunlight causing algae problems , or is back going to painted?

[Flyride95]

Man that is looking amazing.

[Triggerman]

it's coming together very nicely!!!

[kfennell]

The back will be covered + there will be a heavy window shade on there, with the dual purpose of blocking sun and making so you cant see the lights etc from outside.

[Big_Pun]

house looks very nice also from what i can see lol. so when is the big move in day?

[Scream311]

Soooo, ill be the First to say this.

Since i know all my Fellow Maastards are thinking it......


( Uhemm ) *clears throat* kfennell, will you be Hosting an UNOFFICIAL MAAST Showing of this Amazing Build we have ALL been Following since Day One !

- i can already see us all pyling up in van loads out there to San Marcos, to Daze and Stare and what you have Created :hypnotyized:

[FireWater]

It doesn't have to be an unofficial tour. One of the things that the BOD talked about was doing more "home grown" events this year. Getting back to what we used to do. I would love nothing more than meeting at folks houses and talking tanks, it is a great way to learn and see what all works for that tank. If kfennel would be interested in hosting a meeting we would love to work out the details. That is his decision. If he would prefer unofficial then that is his decision too.

Tank is coming along by the way. Can't wait to see the panel up and framing the tank.

[Scream311]

:thumbs_up:

John you've just become My HERO !!!

[kfennell]

And here it is with the cabinetry around it. Granite ledge comes in today.

http://i.imgur.com/YexsH6k.jpg?1

[Scream311]

:hypnotyized:

[kfennell]

Picked up all the sumps and tanks from Ace tonight and will start getting that all assembled this weekend. Looks like I will need to get a boost pump for my RODI since my water pressure is only 33 psi. Always more money! Pics of the sumps tonight maybe but they look good!

[Fracture]

My boyfriend and I are so envious. I can't wait to see the end to this I know it will be beautiful.

[alton]

Looks great, keep the pictures coming

[FireWater]

Does look good.

You could get by running the RODI at the lower pressure, but output would suffer. Just keep an eye on the Outgoing TDS. It will waste a bunch if water too, but if you have the landscape installed at the house you could always water the heck out of it.

[kfennell]

The extra waste water probably costs more $$ then the pump :) The plumber is going to come by one more time and make sure there wasn't something wrong with the water and that I shouldn't have more pressure. Unless he finds something then I will just get the pump, it's not that much in the grand scheme of things.

[kfennell]

Here are some pictures from tonight.

Here is the water reservoir in it's eventual living place. It was tight getting it in there! Had to take the door off to get in turned in place.
http://i.imgur.com/1b1Bno0.jpg?1

Here is the sump and refugium and dosing storage out in the garage.
http://i.imgur.com/FczIHGY.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/jMxTgT3.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/0I03dhK.jpg?1

Here is the sunset from the dock :D
http://i.imgur.com/5ruPu6C.jpg?1

And here is a picture of the tank with some lights just sitting on top.
http://i.imgur.com/QGUQbEI.jpg?1

[Fracture]

Love the sunset and the tank shot

[BBQHILLBILLY]

amazing pics!!:bigsmile:My wifes wants me to save the sunset on the desktop. I said nooo. I want the tank on my desktop. lol

[kfennell]

Lots done on the plumbing this weekend, but silly me didn't take pics. I got the closed loop plumbed all together and ran the pump for a while, nice and quiet so the wife is happy! It turns out that I was not careful enough lining up the T's so I could run plumbing between them so I had to get some spa flex... That stuff is not that flexible though so the plumbing for the closed loop is not really pretty :(

Another thing that I decided is that I will not use threaded bulkheads again, I have had all of them leak repeatedly now. I wish I had got slip x thread! So hopefully someone will learn from this mistake and use slip. The big problem is that even when the bulkhead is tight it isn't THAT tight so there isn't much to turn against when you are tightening the pipe into the bottom of it, so someone has to be in the tank to hold against it :(

Has anyone ever used irrigation valves for controlling flow on and off? Is there one that is 100% pvc or other reef safe material inside?

[Big_Pun]

threaded suck!! a trick that i do is use that plumbers no5 thread paste, there is also another one thats white.NEver get leaks any more with threaded, if you still can re do it with that stuff and you wont have to worry again.

[Big_Pun]

they have it at home depot

1931619317

[kfennell]

I talked with the contractor about that as well, is there any problem with chunks of it breaking off with time and floating around? I would think that since it is a paste there will be overflow.

[Big_Pun]

I talked with the contractor about that as well, is there any problem with chunks of it breaking off with time and floating around? I would think that since it is a paste there will be overflow.
just wipe off excess that squeezes out and no problems. the yellow is very tachy and will make a mess if you use too much and smear it, white paste is more forgiving, i use white one on my reactor connections and lid on one since its a screw on. my tank has been up a year and no problems.

[kfennell]

And here are some pics from the front with the granite in and the frame in and mostly done, just have to stain the bottom. I think I will need a little more light then this still.


http://i.imgur.com/rzLTgAV.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/fBVe2OZ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/EasjI5s.jpg


I also finished all the important plumbing, and the RODI which now has a line running to the QT tank. The tank drains to the septic now if needed, and the closed loop is plumbed up. I am just missing one bulkhead to start it actually running.


I did suffere a pretty annoying setback here, in that I seem to have lost/had stolen? my skimmer. It seems to be about the only thing missing after moving two times. I don't know what gives, so I had to get a new one this weekend.


This brought me to measuring the space to get a skimmer in and I see now that there is only 11.5" to get a skimmer in because they used a 2x8 on the back of the stand. I was therefore limited to 10 and 11" skimmer bodies, so I went with the Super Reef Octupus 5000 in sump. Hopefully it does a good job, I know one of the major retailers personal 500g tank is running on one.

[kfennell]

I turned on the circulation pumps last night, the tank is pretty quiet at full blast, quieter then the HVAC system when the door to the fish room is closed, and I think I will be able to fine tune the flow a little bit more to get some noise down.


I had to valve back the flow a little, with a dart running wide open the water level in the tank was coming up almost an inch above the overflow, as a result it was hitting the top crossmembers which looked really bad from the front. Slowed it down by maybe 1/4 and brought it down.


So I think I will get the plumbing 100% done tomorrow, then install things like the skimmer and heaters and controllers over the rest of the week while the tank sits running full of water with vinegar in it.


That brings me to a question, I was planning on running it with say 10g of vinegar in it, would bleach be better? Is there an advantage to either?


Lastly I did some PAR testing with a high end meter that I borrowed from www.buildmyled. I was showing 900 at 1" 600 at 12" and 250 at the bottom, but it died off pretty fast near teh front and back of the tank, getting down to 70 all the way at the back corner. If I can get that light spread out a little more, maybe by adding one more fixture with a wide angle lens, that should be more then bright enough right?

[kfennell]

I got the plumbing 99% done and cleaned up the room behind the tank finally to take pictures. The tilers accidently tiled back there too so that is a bonus. I used electrical wire staples with plastic clips on them for running the wires and hoses so far and it works great!


Under the tank
http://i.imgur.com/XPgsdVP.jpg


To the right of the tank
http://i.imgur.com/U6JECj1.jpg


Looking into the room.
http://i.imgur.com/POfXP2e.jpg


I went to hook up my K2 kalk reactor last night and it turns out it has a barbed fitting welded into it, so holefully they will send me a new union with nothing on it so that I can run a hard line from it to my tank, I am not a fan of vinyl lines, especially when it has to go 4-5 feet like it does.


I had a better idea for hanging my lights last night as well. I will get shelving brackets from lowes for putting the 10" shelves on your walls and a shelf that is ~ 8 ft long. I will mount one of the brackets to each 2x4 and put the wood across the top of them just like a normal shelf, then I can hang the lights on a pully system from the brackets since the wood is giving them strength side to side, and the shelf is a perfect place to put the ballasts out of the way! Just have to decide if I want to use the fake wood which is already a nice white color to match the room, or get a real piece of wood so that it doesn't degrade from the moisture, but it wont be a pretty white unless I paint it, which I wont :p

[kfennell]

Pretty disappointing find today, I got the apex all mounted and hooked up, etc and I forward my ports, find out my IP blah blah blah andddddd I don't have a pubic IP with my ISP (Ranch Wireless) and a quick look at their site finds that they want $30!!!!! a month for one. That isn't cool. I can still use the app from inside the house, but I was really hoping to be able to monitor it remotely... I guess I will have to settle for email alerts until a good ISP gets out here?

[Scutterborn]

Thats a real bummer!


-Ben-

[BBQHILLBILLY]

Truly amazing build and great vision. Very Nice setup.

[CoryDude]

Yes, this an awesome build. Looks like I have some catching up to do on your tank. That sucks about the skimmer.

[rrasco]

Wait, what? You don't have a public IP? Do you subscribe to your own Internet or is it some kind of community connection?

[ErikH]

I think he means a static IP. Those they'll make you pay for. Go to www.whatismyip.com and it'll tell you your public IP. You need one in order to have internet service. Go to www.noip.com to register for a free one.

[kfennell]

No I don't mean static IP. I literally do not have a public facing IP because I am on a type of shared connection (http://www.ctxu.net/) and it is the only thing available to me. I am going to ask them if they will forward me a port or something.

[rrasco]

Yeah, that's what I meant by some kind of community connection. You do have a WAN IP, it just happens to be shared by the rest of the network. Getting a port forwarded would work, but if they charge for a WAN IP they may not be willing to do it.

[kfennell]

Wow, did I ever buy too much rock! I think I got 400 or 450 lbs, and I won't need nearly that much I don't think. I guess if someone wants some dry Marco Rocks there is lots available at my house for $2 a lb!

I started making the first structure last night, just put the first few rocks together for the base of the big arch. Going OK so far, using clothes hangers and epoxy to join the rocks together. Will connect the two base rocks together with PVC as well to add some strength so the arch doesn't try to pull apart at the base by sliding.

[kfennell]

This picture is almost done just let the epoxy set overnight before we finish the rock arch on the right. I would probably like the rocks in the left pile to go higher but I actually ran out of rocks I thought I had wayyyy too much! I have some wet rocks that I can add to the pile once there is salt in it. It is filling about 10 inches a day.


http://i.imgur.com/kTZUeFN.jpg

[kfennell]

And with the tank 80% full my DI resin lost its effectiveness and my TDS climbed up to 8 when I woke up sunday morning. So I shut down the filling until I get more in. I had already ordered some from BRS which is shipping today, but this will be a couple days delay I guess. In the mean time I just turned on the closed loop in the tank and added salt and a heater and some live rock from QT and I guess it's kind of starting to cycle.

[Big_Pun]

And with the tank 80% full my DI resin lost its effectiveness and my TDS climbed up to 8 when I woke up sunday morning. So I shut down the filling until I get more in. I had already ordered some from BRS which is shipping today, but this will be a couple days delay I guess. In the mean time I just turned on the closed loop in the tank and added salt and a heater and some live rock from QT and I guess it's kind of starting to cycle.
most lfs stores have it in stock so you dont have to wait and the one you ordered can be back up

[Big_Pun]

i also have 3-4 packages of brs color chnaging and 20lbs of bulk resin i could sell you

[kfennell]

Probably not worth all the driving around to find it or out to W SAT, since I am up north. The stores in new braunfels, and aqua dome both dont have it, everything else is kinda far for me. Oh I guess I could check Darbys. Calling...

[kfennell]

Just kidding he is closed Monday

[kfennell]

Any suggestions for finding some between Universal City and downtown austin?

[Big_Pun]

Just kidding he is closed Monday

lol thats right, i know aquarium design and Elegant always have DI resin in stock

[kfennell]

Here is a picture from last night.

http://i.imgur.com/8WxMpr7.jpg?1

[Paul28]

Its comming along now very nice :)

[Triggerman]

now that's a monster tank! Looks great!

[Zack]

Wow, did I ever buy too much rock! I think I got 400 or 450 lbs, and I won't need nearly that much I don't think. I guess if someone wants some dry Marco Rocks there is lots available at my house for $2 a lb!

I started making the first structure last night, just put the first few rocks together for the base of the big arch. Going OK so far, using clothes hangers and epoxy to join the rocks together. Will connect the two base rocks together with PVC as well to add some strength so the arch doesn't try to pull apart at the base by sliding.

I may have to take you up on some dry rock. Can you pm me some sample pics. Looking for about 20-30 lbs

[Big_Pun]

I may have to take you up on some dry rock. Can you pm me some sample pics. Looking for about 20-30 lbs

read post #143 I believe he used it all

[kfennell]

Yeah I did end up using it all, I can't believe it. I could even use another 2-3 pieces of the 1 side cut shelf rock, but dont feel like ordering another box and taking the chance of messing up what I have when I try to add it.

[kfennell]

I am thinking that as I hold my fish in QT that I should be treating them to be 100% sure that I am not missing a spot etc?

I have a 60G tank that is cycled with LR, and a HOB skimmer and ATO.

I can easily enough use any method, from just observing, to Copper or Hypo but dont want to stress the tank any more then nessecary.

On the other hand, I want to keep Larger Ich prone Tangs in a few months as well, so I need to keep the water parasite free.

What have others with large tanks who started with everything 100% Ich free done to keep it that way?

On a related note, how do I get caulerpa/copepods into the tank and remain 100% sure it is ich free?

[FireWater]

Sometimes you can't be sure of being 100% free of it. In my old tank I went over a year with no issues at all. Then it happened. I added three chromis and my tang got ich.

In my experience, keeping a healthy stable tank is the key. You're doing the right thing by QT and a smaller QT is a lot easier to let go fallow or restart then a main tank correct?

[allan]

One of the problems with ich free tanks is that everything you pick up from another tank or online must sit in quarantine for six to eight weeks to ensure the parasite is not viable (no fish to substrate cycle)... and even then it's possible to introduce it. You can dip coral frags, but I'm completely unsure as to the macro. I would imagine that you would develop the macro in the QT tank for a period to starve out the parasite, and then move the macro (with the pods) into your DT fuge.

[350gt]

Ive never quarantined......

and I have 5 tangs in a 5' tank.

[allan]

I've never quarantined either... too much work. Keep a healthy stable envronment. I've had small outbreaks from my sensitive fish, but keeping a low stress environment is the key IME.

[BBQHILLBILLY]

based on what I experienced, ich is aggressive. Its one of those situations where everything is peachy and then theres 1outbreak from something and everything goes to ich.
The experience I developed was with a wounded tang that was done from my either tangs. A new tang has a chance of being attacked by the other tangs.
The ich will seem to attack the wound and lifecycles seem to develop. Keeping the tank warm speeds up the lifecycle of the parasite and eventually dies out.
I should add here that supposedly the parasite is allways in your tank. Like many other critters.
The parasite can travel through coral, hide in shrimp, fish, cold tanks. I have never quarantined, and consider myself to be lucky.
I battle the parasite with a warm tank and wrasse cleaners for the tangs.

[350gt]

I've never quarantined either... too much work. Keep a healthy stable envronment. I've had small outbreaks from my sensitive fish, but keeping a low stress environment is the key IME.



feed, feed and feed.......



I will sale you a healthy NASO...... MAYBE MY YELLOW TOO..

[allan]

lol, you know my sail fin looks almost as big as Chris the Vlam, not sure if I have enough room for another large tang.

You do grow some healthy fish.

[350gt]

thanks allan....


But I was offering to KFENNELL..


nothing like buying healthy fish from a healthy tank that has been up and running for over 2 years with no major issues....

[kfennell]

Thanks for the offer, I definately will be looking around for some large tangs in the coming months, I think I want to get 30-40 smaller fish in there first so that noone gets too much of the boss when I start adding the tangs.

[350gt]

Let me know... I'm ready to clear house!

naso and yellow for sure..... They are great fish, fat and healthy. Ask anyone who been over to my house.

[Louis-210]

Let me know... I'm ready to clear house!

naso and yellow for sure..... They are great fish, fat and healthy. Ask anyone who been over to my house.

They are very good looking FAT FISH lol!

[kfennell]

OK, so the first fish are going in the tank tonight, 23 Chromis that made it through QT (of 30, 4 died in day 1 then three more over the next 2 weeks, all were seeming healthy, no ammonia in the tank, I dunno what happenned). Then I am getting the second batch of fish from Divers den on Thursday.

I also hooked up my lights almost properly last night. I can't dim them yet, but at least I can turn each color on and off individually. The tank looks REALLY nice with just the blue/UV on and the total color mixture looks like a very very clean white so that came out great. Pictures tonight when I get some fish in.

So far coming Thursday from DD is:
Bluelined Rabbitfish
Pearly Jawfish
Splended Dottyback
Purple Stripe Dottyback
Social Fairy Wrasse Terminal Phase


I will probablly add 2-3 of what I like best from DD when it releases tonight as well.

[kfennell]

Here are the pics that I got before my battery died. I guess I need to learn to adjust white balance because in some of these pics the lighting is quite white, and in some it is just the UV. They dont look much different...

http://i.imgur.com/MxKS6S4.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/pQIRD8Q.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/bjQ3x8h.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/cWh4m7x.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/EAuwr2R.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/KMJaBln.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/JT5j3K8.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/aSh22uo.jpg

[Zack]

That second pic from the bottom looks CLEAN.. nice setup.

[jrsatx20]

Let me know... I'm ready to clear house!

naso and yellow for sure..... They are great fish, fat and healthy. Ask anyone who been over to my house.

"great fish, obese but healthy." is what you mean.

no really they are great looking fish and will look right at home in that large new tank

[kfennell]

That second pic from the bottom looks CLEAN.. nice setup.

Thanks, that was the whole goal to keep as much out of the tank as possible, just two powerheads in there and the wires are mostly hidden against the overflow. and behind the wall.

[reefreak]

Gorgeous tank!!!

[kfennell]

And here is the new arrivals from last night!


http://i.imgur.com/OabJO77.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/7H6ULKn.jpg

[kfennell]

And here is the cat being angry


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uns8hZBA7UE&t=0m9s (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uns8hZBA7UE&t=0m9s)

[hobogato]

i am so glad they ended up in that huge tank - they will be much happier.

[signal_4]

Thats my Baby Blue Lips AKA Bluey !!! Take good care of her and dont worry cause she is already well adapted to cats ! Thanks for taking her and her boyfriend into that huge awesome tank !

[Fracture]

So glad they got a great home congrats and cute video

[kfennell]

Tested the Nitrates this weekend after never having checked it before... Turns out that it was at 25... So I guess I will need to tone down the feeding a tiny bit!

I will do a 100g water change every other day till I get that back down and back way off on the feeding, plus turn the skimmer a little more aggressive plus leave the continuous water change running (I had it off because I was away) and hopefully all of this together will help quite a bit to get it back down.

[Big_Pun]

hows the tank?

[signal_4]

Hey how is my Valmengi doing ?

[Zoofan]

Can you comment on how your water flow is? I am getting ready to put in a 600g and have been thinking of how to plumb for flow. I have a 220g now and have used intank pumps with pvc plumbing through the rocks which works well for flow in the reef. I want to drill this next tank and noticed how you had yours drilled. How are you pushing the open water around?

Thanks,

Mike

[Big_Pun]

I don't think he's keeping up with this thread anymore


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[carlinsa]

Guess build is falling through?

[Zack]

He's somewhat active on Arc last I checked